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Job not yet done, but the Socceroos, inspired by a coming-of-age outing from Robbie Kruse, took a significant stride towards Brazil with a big 4-0 win over Jordan in Melbourne last night.

For years now Australia has been clamouring for the next batch of ‘Roos to not only be given a chance, but to take it, and Kruse gave us a sneak peek at what that looks like with an inspired performance that featured two assists and a terrific solo goal.

Holger Osieck may have been keen to hose down the hype around Kruse’s performance post-match, perhaps understandably so given the importance of the Iraq game next week, but for many fans of the Socceroos, this is what they have been waiting years for.

On the big occasion, with his team under significant pressure to get the win, Kruse stepped up to the plate, driving consistently beyond Jordan’s left back Basem Fathi both on the ball and without it, and showing plenty of variety in his game.

While he looked a threat on the counter attack in Saitama, here there was a reminder that his game offers more.

With the Roos on the front foot for much of the match, Kruse reminded everyone just how creative he can also be, ducking inside, getting on the ball and linking.

What was particularly exciting about Kruse’s performance was that he produced an end product just about every time he got into solution spots, teeing up both Mark Bresciano and Tim Cahill, before finding the net himself after a delightful nutmeg on Mohammad Mustafa.

Countless other times he produced accurate cut-backs from the byline, finding feet.

Back in the city and ground where he did some of his best work in the A-League, it was exciting to see how much Kruse has evolved in his time in Germany.

With a performance like this, it was easy to see why he’s much-talked about in the Bundesliga, and the hope here is we can get a little more coverage of the German league to see him more regularly.

With his pace, increased tactical awareness and lightning sharp technique, the hope is his next domestic season is another huge one, wherever he ends up.

If the Socceroos can make it to Brazil, he could be flying by the time we get there, becoming our key player, and he mightn’t be the only one.

While Tommy Oar, on the other flank, had a tougher night against the pacey Khalil Bani Ateyah, there were times in the first half where he showcased his potential.

Meanwhile, Tommy Rogic, in a 15 minute cameo at the end of the match, showcased the quality he possess on the ball, even bagging an assist for his skipper.

If these three attacking midfielders can produce the goods for their clubs next season, then the Roos future isn’t as gloomy as it has often appeared under Osieck.

It’s not quite nirvana, but it may be the start of something, and the hope is they can consistently provide front third penetration for years to come.

In many ways, the Socceroos’ use of lightning speed down the flanks last night was a throw-back to the 1990s, when the likes Jason van Blerk, Stan Lazaridis, Tony Vidmar and another Robbie, in Slater, would consistently bomb-on out wide.

This mightn’t have been the most complete ‘Roos performance, but there were other aspects to enjoy, including the form of central midfielders Mark Milligan and Bresciano.

With the game often stretched between the central defenders and attack, there was much space for both to cover. Milligan, in particular, covered it well, protecting his defence whenever Jordan looked to go quickly, holding up the play, allowing his teammates to transition back.

Miligan’s was a performance of tactical maturity.

Meanwhile, the Socceroos look a far better unit with Bresciano in the team, pulling the strings, especially when he is able to get high up the pitch.

Whereas last week he and Milligan were often redundant as an attacking option, forced to play deep, here they were even able to drift into the box, as Bresciano did for the opener.

While Jordan rarely looked a threat, some credit must go to Osieck for sticking with the Saitama starters and instilling in them an understanding of the different strategy required here.

When they were looking flat at the start of the second period, he injected Archie Thompson, much to the approval of Melbourne’s football fans.

While there were still worrying signs about a defence that refuses to push up too high, this was one of the better efforts under Osieck.

But as the manager said in the post match press conference, this is no time to celebrate, with the attention already turned to recovering in time for next Tuesday’s decider in Sydney.

With the hype around Kruse and the result last night, Osieck’s will be keen to ensure complacency doesn’t creep into the squad, and has again pleaded with the media not to give birth to any heroes.

While Osieck’s ultimate goal remains World Cup qualification, most Roos fans also want a team on the rise if and when we get there.

The Crowd Says (200) | Page 1 of Comments

I think Rogic has to start. As you say tony, if these players are Australia’s future than life isn’t as bad as we thought it would get. Tom Rogic’s presence in the final third looked like the piece in the puzzle that Australia have been missing in the final third for a while. Holman has an impressive work rate and get’s around the park but Rogic’s ability to tear apart defences through the middle is rare for an Australian player.

I still think though that Scott McDonald shouldn’t be discarded quite yet and could still have a role to play with this new attacking 3. He is our best striker in Europe and adds more to the team’s build up play than Cahill.

Totally disagree! There is no way you can drop Holman after that!! Rogic looked good, yes, but he was playing against a team who had already given up. Unchanged line up again for me.

Don’t get me wrong, I want to see Rogic get more minutes, but I don’t think the ‘all or nothing’ game next week is the time to start him. Holman put some magical through balls through in the last two games, mostly to Kruse who mostly failed to take full advantage of them.

I’m with you Dave, Holmans partnership with Kruse was fantastic and it allowed them to continually get in behind the Jordanian defence. If I was to put Rogic on for someone it would be Tommy Oar… But I still don’t think changes are really required. The thing we don’t want Australia to become is complacent.

Yes Holman and Kruse form a fantastic partnership, they should do for another 65 minutes next week. As the opposition fatigues, bring on Rogic to cut them apart, it’s a great combo.
Again was surprised not to see Jesus last night. Archie played well when he came on but the guy is 34, the same age Kennedy will be at the next world cup.

Oar had a disappointing evening but I really hope he isn’t dropped,he must keep playing and learning at international level.He just had to be abit smarter last night,trying to skin past a player who’s quicker than you isn’t going to work.It didn’t help Mckay was having a stinker also because they weren’t working the defenders around and creating space on that side like they were in Japan.

Should have expanded my point rather than laugh!
Modern fullbacks must be able to get forward and offer support in attack. Thwaite is a decent, intelligent central player, but totally unsuited to a fullback role. Did we try this v South Korea or someone? This would totally unbalance us, isolate Oar further and shunt all of our play down the right.

Yes Thwaite would be head and shoulders above McKay literally, and is a complete footballer with more pace than McKay, who is a plodder.. Thwaite has had o/s experience in that position when he was playing in Europe.

I agree re: Holman. He has been a vital player for us for a long time, what we’ve lacked are pacy AM’s that can run onto a defence splitting pass. That issue appears to have been resolved.

Rogic will be great off the bench next week as he can come on to replace either Holman or Bresciano if either tire or if Holger wishes to mix things up. The good thing is that he has had some game time now.

Stirring performance last night. And I see that Okazaki scored very late on to give Japan (second string team?) a win over Iraq. The stage is set!!
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Mobility and technique the key to our improved performances, and in Milligan and Bresciano we found something more than Mile Jedinak gives up.

Clearly playing in the A-League is now better than being in the EPL!

Jedinak is a great player but for international football and the type of game Australia needs to play his touch is not quite there. A future centre back perhaps? Strong, fast, aggressive and good enough touch for that position.

When Australia has enough midfield quality to keep Mile Jedinak out of the midfield Australia will have come of age as a football playing nation. Are we there yet? Nearly. Probably need Milligan, Bresciano, Valeri and one other to ensure Mile becomes something other than the focal point of our midfield.

In Oar, Kruse, Holman, Rogic we look to have found the future of the team, certainly in an attacking sense. Great to see the team take shape, and shades of Asia Cup in terms of Holger’s style. Now we need a more youthful defence, at least 4 players!

Some good signs going forward however.

Radical thought?

Would you ditch some of the old fellas if we make the World Cup and build for the Asia Cup just six months later. We need to do well in the Asian Cup at least get to the final and I’d probably give Schwarzer, Ognenosvki, Cahill and Wilkshire the flick should we qualify….okay okay I’ll keep Cahill if you protest but that’s it. Lucas can stay as he’s the leader but no-one, no-one else. Langarak can replace Schwarzer. Football and the especially the World Cup is a younger man’s game. We simply have too many older squad members.

Could the squad take a Hiddink type training regime, twice a day for three weeks prior to the World Cup, to get fit enough to even compete? Not the group above

Cruel world?

We’ll never win the World Cup, but we can win the Asian Cup and if we win next Tuesday let’s take the gift and use the EAFF Cup to blood younger players for the World Cup….with the real aim…the Asian Cup.

I agree that we’ll need to rejuvenate the side should we qualify, but I can’t see Holger making wholesale changes. Heck, he’ll probably play the same 11 in every lead up game and then claim no-one else has done enough to break though.

I disagree that Cahill should go. Bresc will be an impact sub by then only. Valeri should not return.
Milligan before Jediinak yes.

Wilkshire is certainly on the decline.
Thompson plays younger than his age, so he’s ok to continue.

Valeri should return he provides ball protection that Jedinak can’t.
Could Jedinak be a centre back – more suited perhaps than the midfield role he would like.

Langarak might have played 5 games in 3 years but he can play all the EAFF, and all the build up games next year and be ready for the World and more importantly the Asian Cup.

Schwarzer has already said he’ll retire after World Cup so why take him. Anyone else think he looked very stiff and slow chasing a few balls last night??

Bring in Sarota, Antonis and Good, possibly Sainsbury De Vere/Hamill, or the best two or three from the U20s who will be ready by the Asia Cup to push for a place in the squad.

We didn’t rebuild before or after the South Africa World Cup – this time six months later we have the Asian Cup at home. The World Cup we ain’t gonna win – assuming we get there – so lets use it as the celebration it is and the dress rehearsal it must be for the Asian Cup 2015.

I do see your point. Schwarzer was probably cold though , having had nothing to do! Seriously though, history shows that players playing regularly is essential. Langerak needs club games.

Good is playing in the lower levels in England + EPL reserves so at this stage he’s not much “good” to us. Devere isn’t playing (rate him), see above point. Hamill has potential. Antonis needs to prove himself further.

I’m all for rejuvenation, and Holger has criminally failed to bring more younger players through, but call-ups need to be earnt with regular football at decent levels. We should have already rebuilt.

My squad for EAFF will differ to Holger. I am sure he will take the chance to pair Neil with Thwaite, try Archie from both wings etc. if it were me:
———Langerak
Zullo Good Williams Herd
Oar Antonis Rogic Sarota Triosi
———-Bablj

I hope people don’t get too far ahead of themselves. I for one do not take much from that result last night despite the fact we played entertaining football. Jordan really did not look up to the task last night and after the initial 10 minutes, Australia dominated with ease.

Prior to this result they had a GA record of 9 in their three matches played within this group. Australia took that total to 13,in four matches. If someone had of said 4-0 before the match.. Then id be surprised. During the match… No. Overall the performance was good but when I think of the Socceroos of old and the turning point in our qualification process I’ll always look back against the 1-1 to Japan.

Australia should win next week and that’s not complacency. Their home record is still undefeated throughout this process and the side is now facing a team who’s ranking suggests they are worse than Jordan. I wouldn’t take Iraq lightly but I would be more confident in a 4-0 result against Iraq now then I was against Jordan.

Still a lot of work to do… But the two big questions are: Will Australia qualify for Brazil? & Will HO stay on as national coach?

Exactly, during some of Australia’s lull periods, I still felt confident because Jordan were poor last night, not so much because Australia were great. They cannot travel.
We still have a lot of work to do if we qualify for the WC, some good signs, but some worrying signs too. Maybe the poor pitch was the reason for the poor football at times by both teams. FFA needed to play at Aami.

It was a good win which will be great for the morale and confidence of the squad ahead of the Iraq game, but lets not get too far ahead of ourselves, we *should* be expecting to beat the likes of Jordan. I didn’t like the ‘flat’ period between Bresciano’s Opener and Half Time very much. A better team than Jordan would/could have punished us.

It’s Holger… and I will not apologize for one second… Is he going to apologize for the abysmal performance the Socceroos put in prior to these last two efforts. Don’t get too far ahead of yourself. There is still one game. I wonder if he will be our coach heading into the World Cup if we make it…

I would rather be proven wrong then proven right… Wouldn’t you if you were in my position??

Now, now Kellet, I asked you previously what will you say if Holger won his last two games.. He will have achieved his goal by qualifying for the world cup with a squad that no one thought he could do it with.. You can’t blame him for the qualifying draw he was given playing away from home—in conditions that were totally oppressive to what we are use to, which favoured our opponents to no end..

Hello QSAF, hoping all is well. Good on Holger & the boys for doing the job in the last 2 games, but think home games against Oman & Thailand in previous round, where all the doubts about the aging team & Holger started.
I’m very confident we will qualify, but I’m not as confident, we will compete in Brazil as we did in Germany & even Sth Africa. This has something to do with the aging team, but Holger’s lack of faith or ability to bring the younger team on & develop for the future. So yes Kellet has no need for apologies, the question mark is still huge for Holger.

Punter—it was clear the youngsters were not ready to take over from the more experienced players in the early stages, which should have been clear to all of you calling for Holgers head. How many times has Archie come off the bench to replace a youngster not performing in past games? It was quite evident in the last Asian tournament when he took over a mixture of promising youngsters and experienced players—it was the old guard coming to the rescue. Now finally the kids have shown not only the promise that Holger new they had, but now are ready. Before they were only playing minor roles for their clubs. They are now ready to make a difference. It has all gone to Holger’s plan.

You can ask me as much as you want on my opinion of Osieck and it will not change, maybe if we win the world cup and he still coach might I change my opinion, but going off what has been put before us since his tenure I feel as though he has not been able to provide consistency…

With Verbeek, it was boring, very defensive and gutsy but it worked. It was the same all the time. Under Osieck – besides the past two games – you don’t know what you are going to get.

Agreed Kellett. Nothing to apologise for. We’ve beaten a side we should expect to beat, and there are still concerns. Holger still can’t address how open our centre midfield is. A decent side would have really caused us problems in transition. Bresc is great when play is close but he struggles to get around the pitch.

We were flat between the 30 -60 minute mark, losing direction. A better side….

Regardless of the result next week Holger is under deserved scrutiny. That qualification from a relatively easy group goes down to the last game says a lot about our coach.

Top Secret—-next Tuesday night they will change their tune and give the manager their respect.. On paper this squad falls way short of the past two world cup squads, which qualified for the world cup.. Holger has done a magnificent job with the players at his disposal.

Holger has chosen the players at his disposal! 2 holding midfielders who can’t control the game has been his issue. Thank goodness Jedi was injured or we’d still probably be doing the same. Alex Brosque FFS!

“Magnificient job” – absolute rubbish. We still struggle to control a game.
Choosing Cornthwaite ever is down to the coach, when there are much better options kicking around.

Relatively speaking, apart from Japan we are vastly superior to our group opponents. That we have struggled so much is down to the coach. Yes, we don’t have the resources of the past, but QSAF, you make it sound as if we are the underdogs.

Are you seriously thinking that Holger has had a squad of players equal to the last two Australian teams that qualified for the past two World Cup? Think again—this is about an aging team and youngsters who were not ready at their European Clubs to fill the spots of our aging stalwarts. Finally, the youngster are only now stepping up ready to stake their claims—we are now seeing that with Holger in charge. Yes we were not underdogs, but clearly, we also were not favourites, with the Australian squad that was available to him.

Read again. I said “We don’t have the resources of the past”. However we are still better than we have shown and clear second favourites behind Japan in the group. Even with our core physically declining we are still superior to the rest of the group and should have expected to qualify.

The youngsters have struggled partly due to a lack of international exposure. Who played Neill in a friendly knowing he’d be suspended?

Again QSAF, rather than blindly following Holger, look at his team selections, tactics. These are the reasons we have struggled to this point. Verbeek was far superior in these areas.

Many of us can recall the likes of other similarly ranked nations crawling to a WC with an old playing group and being hopelessly inadequate. This is our fear. We should have had a greater degree of regeneration/depth and that is down to the coach

“The youngsters have struggled partly due to a lack of international exposure.”

How ridiculous—the youngsters struggled in the past because they were not first choice team players for their respective European clubs. Now they are and are now being picked to play for the national team.

Great to see Kruse and oar and rogic play last night. Thought we had some worrying lulls and some very sloppy moments but these were washed over by the final score. Bresh was in great form and for me sets the team. Iraq lost. The Archie sub was good management. Rubbish playing surface and quiet crowd aside a good result. One more to go.

It got a lot better as the game went on. Credit to TA, they were certainly visual, tried hard, and used good simple chants. It’s a start………..but felt a it akward at the start when you could hear a pin drop.

Well done Holger…. in the words of the late Johnny Warren “I told you so”… Holger’s game plan played out to perfection last night with inspired team selections and subs coming on at the precise time. Well noting too that, we had three players who featured in the HAL last year rose to the occasion.. The squad is peaking at the right time and the old heads at the back are showing grit and determination with Bresh and Millsy controlling the ground in front of them. At last we have solid back six who have a lot of steel and creativity to play out from the back to serve our front third with goal opportunities… Well done Holger’s Heroes!!!

QSAF, in this part of the world the sale of synthetic drugs is now banned. Not in yours obviously 🙂

Your ‘solid” back 6 is quite a claim. For 15 minutes either side of HT the midfield was ridiculously open. A better coach would have tightened the space between the lines, and between Milligan, Bresc.and Holman.

Performances are better (nearly to the minimum level we should expect – even with this squad), but “peaking”.

Some of us aren’t fooled into thinking all is grand. This squad with (this coach) these performances will get absolutely belted in Brasil, should we make it.

I hear what your saying … BUT you must give some credit in the last two matches we have played well … just on Timmy Oar … wonders aloud does anyone know what James Troisi is up to these days …. he seems to have gone off the rader but he is a left sided mid …